2 boats to train/race?

Question - to race and be competitive, boat no.2 is necessary? What are others thoughts?... Is there any joy in racing a boat with a built in speed handicap?

Boat 1 - wider boat is safer/functional for weekend come what may (except lightning storms) paddle

Boat 2 - this wider boat is generally going to be 2 kmh slower than XYZ elite boat, but a the elite is a cow in crosschop/wind/storms.

(and you can't beat a dual scupper fixed length spec ski for emptying speed or tracking in side wind)

References
- 11kg (otherwise spec) slsa ski (current)
- v14 red nose (bought, raced and sold again last season)
- lake paddling with 1m swell faces @ 25kph wind
- out and back normal, cross wind/swell not avoidable